Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson of the Raven Clan was the last petty king of Rygjafylke in Norway during the 9th century. He was the father of Sigurd Styrbjornsson and the adoptive father of Eivor Varinsdottir, whose parents Varin and Rosta died during a raid by Kjotve of the Wolf Clan in 856.
After a long of period of rivalry against Kjotve and his clan, Styrbjorn grew weary of the constant fighting and grabs for power. In 872, he made an alliance with Harald Fairhair, who would be the first king of a unified Norway, and in the process surrendered his lands and title to the would-be-king. This move angered Sigurd, who belived he had been robbed of his birthright to become jarl, and thus a rift formed between the father and son.
As consequence of Styrbjorn's actions, a large number of clan members including Sigurd and Eivor made the decision to migrate to England to escape Harald's rule. Styrbjorn then spent his remaining days drinking and mourning the loss of not just his kingdom, but also his children.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Styrbjorn was the son of Sigvaldi,[1] a jarl of Stavanger. Upon Sigvaldi's death, Styrbjorn took lordship over the region.[2] In 842, Styrbjorn had a son, Sigurd, who befriended Eivor Varinsdottir, the daughter of Varin and Rosta, two members of an allied clan. Varin was friends with Styrbjorn and planned to pledge his village, Heillboer, to the king.[3]
A young Eivor presenting Styrbjorn with an arm ring
In 856, Styrbjorn and his son attended a feast organized in Heillboer, during which Eivor presented the king with an arm ring given to her by her father, as a sign of Varin's clan pledging themselves to the Raven Clan. However, moments later, Heillboer came under attack by the Wolf Clan led by Kjotve the Cruel, who slaughtered many residents, including Varin and Rosta.[3] Styrbjorn and his son managed to survive the onslaught and the king decided to adopt the orphaned Eivor, raising her and Sigurd as siblings.[4]
Misfortune of Gull[]
- Eivor: "I brought you a tribute. A skald. A storyteller."
- Styrbjorn: "She is more than that, and you know it. Look at the collar around her neck, Eivor. Look at her robes. Whatever this woman may be, she is prized. She will be missed. You have brought disaster on my house, daughter... You have brought death!"
- —Styrbjorn expressing disappointment at Eivor's actions, 870.[src]-[m]
One day in 870, Eivor returned home with her clanmates Tora Auzoux and Dag Nithisson after preventing a raid on a village in Rygjafylke by Kjotve, hoping that by saving the settlement, it would convince the population to swear allegiance to their jarl. However, Styrbjorn chastised Eivor's actions in bringing Kjotve's tattooed slave, a woman named Gull, back to Stavanger as a prize, saying that her presence would bring disaster and death.[2]
Styrbjorn struck by two arrows
Such backlash drew the ire of his adopted daughter, who vented her frustrations elsewhere. Styrbjorn's warning later came true, as Fornburg was attacked by the Wolf Clan, who fell the jarl with two arrows into his back.[5] He was helped up by Tora who attempted to get him to safety, though the king was intent on staying and fighting, cursing what Eivor had brought upon them and demanding her whereabouts. As the fighting continued, Tora was killed before Eivor arrived and saved what was left of the clan. All together, they managed to stop the advancement of the Wolf Clan.[6]
That same year, Styrbjorn and Eivor were invited to Avaldsnes at Hjorr Halfsson's hall after his sons, Geirmund Hel-hide and Hámund Hel-hide, survived a near-death experience and arrived home. After Geirmund met with his parents, Styrbjorn was called to meet with Hjorr to talk about King Harald Fairhair's growing power as Geirmund was left to wait and talk with Eivor within the hall. Soon after, the meeting ended as both Styrbjorn and Eivor left the hall.[7]
Alliance with King Harald[]
- Sigurd: "You said nothing of this to me, not a word! And I will not yield a title that should be mine by right!"
- Styrbjorn: "Then war will continue. Men will die, villages will burn, you foolish boy! This is our only way towards true peace!"
- —Styrbjorn and Sigurd arguing about the former's decision, 872.[src]-[m]
Styrbjorn lecturing Eivor
In 872, Styrbjorn greeted Eivor when his adoptive daughter returned to Fornburg after one of her failed attacks against Kjotve. The king scolded Eivor for disobeying his orders not to engage the Wolf Clan while she in turn criticized him for being too careful. As the subject of the conversation turned to Varin, whom Eivor saw as a coward for choosing to surrender before Kjotive killed him, both Styrbjorn and Eivor were alerted to the return of Sigurd from his two-year expedition abroad.[8]
Styrbjorn went to the docks to greet his son and, that night, organized a feast in his honor.[9] However, after the party, Styrbjorn and Sigurd got into an argument, as the latter wanted to invade Kjotve's Fortress and end the tyrant, a plan which the jarl opposed, believing that their loss would be too much were they to be defeated. The two were interrupted by Eivor, who warned of three of Kjotve's warriors who had been caught spying on Sigurd's camp. Taking action, Sigurd decided to launch an attack on Nottfall, one of Kjotve's villages.[10]
After their successful raid of Nottfall, Sigurd and Eivor were approached by King Harald and his uncle Guthorm the Wise, who proposed an alliance.[10] The two accepted and the group later laid siege to Kjotve's fortress, defeating the Wolf Clan and eliminating its jarl.[11] This allowed Harald to initiate his plan to unite Norway under his rule and Styrbjorn, believing this could bring an end to the nation's endless wars and dwindling resources, decided to pledge fealty to the would-be-King of Norway.[12]
Styrbjorn swearing his allegiance to Harald
At an althing organized by Harald in Alrekstad, Styrbjorn announced his intentions before the assembled crowd, including Sigurd and Eivor, much to the former's anger. Feeling betrayed by his father's decision to surrender his birthright of land without his knowledge or consent, Sigurd came to see him as a cowardly and weak leader and their relationship was damaged beyond repair.[12] Not long after, Sigurd, Eivor and other members of the Raven Clan similarly opposed to Styrbjorn's decision left Norway and sailed to England in search of better prospects.[13]
Later years[]
By 877, Styrbjorn was little more than a stumbling drunk, spending his days at the local tavern in Alrekstad and his nights on barren planks of wood. He also bathed little, and was the butt of many comments regarding this. One winter's day, he was surprised by the arrival of Sigurd and Eivor. Immediately rising from his stupor, Styrbjorn sobered up and greeted the two. His son, however, was unhappy to so see him, still mad about his father's surrender. Styrbjorn, upon noticing Sigurd's missing arm, expressed deep concern for his well-being, although he was pushed away.[14]
A depressed Styrbjorn reunited with his children
Styrbjorn surmised that his children had returned to wage war against King Harald, though Sigurd wanted nothing to do with what he thought of as nothing more than a "frozen backwater". Styrbjorn had always hoped for his son's return, but Sigurd no longer held any aspirations of kingship, believing his destiny lay elsewhere. Styrbjorn stood as his son mocked him for his failure, forfeiting his birthright. The former jarl shot back that Sigurd was never home, therefore never interested in ruling to begin with.[14]
When Sigurd tried to defend the comment, that he was spreading the word of his father, Styrbjorn raised his voice and claimed that the people of Constantinople had no need for his name. Sigurd, more angered than before, departed the tavern, leaving Styrbjorn and Eivor to express their farewells.[14]
Sometime following the events in the Yggdrasil Chamber, Eivor returned to Alrekstad to speak with Styrbjorn, informing him of Sigurd's decision to remain in Norway or return to England. Either way, Styrbjorn was content to know that his son was safe, and bid Eivor farewell for the final time.[15] Eivor also spoke with King Harald, asking him to make sure her adoptive father was treated with respect and dignity during his final days. Harald agreed to keep watch over Styrbjorn, as he had been a loyal retainer, but claimed that there was only so much he could do for the man, which satisfied Eivor.[16]
Personality and traits[]
- Styrbjorn: "What happened to my son? What turmoil did he see that took his arm and darkened his mood?"
- Eivor: "He saw his father for what he truly was. A coward who faced his enemies with more honesty than he did his family."
- Styrbjorn: "I was a father to you, Eivor."
- Eivor: "I have no father."
- —Styrbjorn and Eivor arguing, 877.[src]-[m]
Styrbjorn expressing concern for his son's injury
Styrbjorn was, at heart, a very considerate and wise ruler who wished nothing but the best for his people. He reprimanded Sigurd and Eivor for their hasty approach in dealing with Kjotve that nearly cost the two their lives, and even cited that he worked on securing alliances to improve the odds against their enemy's forces, showing that he would not condone recklessness. Yet, it became evident to Sigurd and Eivor that Styrbjorn had long become disillusioned with their culture's pursuit of honor and glory.[17]
This disillusionment stemmed from Styrbjorn's dislike of the constant infighting between the Norse clans, an issue that came to light during the unification of Norway, where he reluctantly swore fealty to King Harald.[12] Styrbjorn's distaste for violence was also made evident by his positive opinion of Varin's sacrifice, which saved the lives of many of his people, in contrast to Eivor, who saw her father as a coward.[8]
Although Styrbjorn's decision to swear allegiance to Harald cost him greatly, with his children painting him as a selfish and weak leader, the jarl made it clear that he did not regret his choice. He took satisfaction in the fact that his people at the very least lived on, even if as Harald's subjects, and saw it as the lesser evil compared to more decades of wars and bloodshed.[12]
Behind the scenes[]
Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson is a character that appears in the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. He is voiced by the Norwegian actor Kåre Conradi.
In the first issue of Valhalla's prequel comic series Song of Glory, Styrbjorn's father is named as Olaf. While in The Art of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, his father is named Harald. Both of these conflict with the ship story about Nal told by Bragi while aboard the Sea-Chariot, Eivor's personal longship, where Bragi instead names a "Sigvaldi" as Styrbjorn's father.[1]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – The Ravens' Wound (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Floating conversations: "Ship stories"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory – Issue #01
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Prologue
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Honor Bound
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory – Issue #02
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory – Issue #03
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 4
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Family Matters
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Prodigal Prince
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Rude Awakening
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Cruel Destiny
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Birthrights
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Seas of Fate
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Where Legends Are Born
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Floating conversations: "Styrbjorn"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Floating conversations: "Harald Fairhair"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
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